You'll either love this album or (like most people) hate it. As all of
Jones' recordings are radically different (
Sex Pistols were punk; Chequered Past was schlock;
Mercy is as wimpy as rock gets;
Neurotic Outsiders were, at best, half-baked), this is his true heavy metal album. In the spirit of the
Cult's
Electric and
Iggy Pop's
Instinct (which
Jones played and wrote on), this album just rocks. Working with several outside writers (
Ian Astbury,
Rose Tattoo, Nikki Sixx, and even
Tonio K.)
Jones has come up with an album's worth of heavy riffage,
AC/DC-like, if comparisons must be made, and clever lyrics in the dumbest sort of way.
Fire & Gasoline leaves no subject in the heavy metal universe alone. You've got your ode to sexy shoes ("Leave Your Shoes On"), hypocrisy ("God in Louisiana"), being a bad boy ("We're Not Saints"), and, of course, heavy metal ("Wild Wheels"). Also included are two covers -- one of
Jones' old band the
Sex Pistols' "I Did U No Wrong," which totally kicks, and a rather lame version of
Bowie's "Suffragette City," which sounds like an afterthought coming at the end of the record. While
Jones can't sing to save his life, it really doesn't matter here. This ain't opera, y'know. His guitar playing is routinely excellent, if not groundbreaking in any way. If you are a huge
Sex Pistols/punk fan you may want to avoid this, or at least hear it before purchasing. If, however, you dig old-school
AC/DC heaviness and crunchy power chords, then this disc will be a welcome addition to your collection. ~ Geoff Ginsberg